NTCOSS outraged by $12m for racing industry

The Northern Territory Council of Social Service is outraged by a $12 million funding allocation to the Territory's racing industry.

The council says it is disappointing to see a scale-back on the funding of alcohol programs in the health budget, but a $2 million increase to the racing industry.

The council's executive director, Wendy Morton, says an industry that promotes gambling should not be getting this kind of Government support.

"We would have thought this would have been a more self-sustaining [industry] and not needing so much Government assistance," she said.

"And we think that money could be spent a lot more productively and assist a lot more struggling Territorians by providing extra community support services."

The Treasurer, Delia Lawrie, says it is up to the racing industry to decide how the money is spent.

"They have informed me that they will put a significant amount towards the prize money, also funding for increased jockey payments, also some capital works around the stables in Darwin as well as catering facilities in Alice Springs. "